Is AZ-104 harder than AWS Solutions Architect Associate?

They are a similar intermediate level. AZ-104 leans more toward hands-on administration; AWS SAA-C03 leans more toward architectural design and trade-offs.

Do I need AZ-900 first?

No. AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals) is optional. AZ-104 has no prerequisites, though fundamentals help if you are new to Azure.

Why does the certification expire after a year?

Microsoft uses annual renewals to keep role-based certifications current. Renewal is free, online and open-book.

IT & Cloud

Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)

Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate

By The Exam Atlas Editorial Team · Verified 2026-05-29

Quick facts

Provider	Microsoft
Exam code	AZ-104
Level	intermediate
Format	Multiple choice, case studies and occasional labs
Questions	Typically 40–60 questions
Duration	2 hours
Passing score	700 / 1000
Exam fee	$165 (varies by country)
Validity	1 year (free online renewal)
Languages	EN, DE, JA, KO, ZH, ES, FR, PT

Overview

The Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) certification validates that you can manage Azure identities, governance, storage, compute and virtual networks day to day. It is the core associate-level Azure credential for operations and administration roles.

The exam is hands-on in spirit: expect case studies and questions that mirror real administrative tasks. Microsoft role-based certifications expire after one year, but renewal is a free, online, open-book assessment.

Who it is for

System and cloud administrators working with Microsoft Azure
IT operations staff in Microsoft-centric organisations
Engineers in DACH and European enterprises where Azure is common

Who it is not for

Azure beginners — do AZ-900 Fundamentals first.
AWS-only shops or roles.
Those wanting a developer focus (look at AZ-204).

Exam structure

Manage Azure identities and governance	20–25%
Implement and manage storage	15–20%
Deploy and manage Azure compute resources	20–25%
Configure and manage virtual networking	15–20%
Monitor and maintain Azure resources	10–15%

How the exam is weighted

Manage identities & governance 20-25%
Implement & manage storage 15-20%
Deploy & manage compute resources 20-25%
Implement & manage virtual networking 15-20%
Monitor & maintain resources 10-15%

Approximate official domain weighting — confirm the current split in the official exam objectives. Verified 2026-05-29.

Realistic study time

AZ-900 / some Azure 60-80 hours over 8 weeks
New to Azure 100-130 hours

Bars show relative effort, not a guarantee. Your time depends on background and study method.

What it really costs

Exam fee	~US$165 — varies by country
Retake	Full fee again
Study materials	US$0-200 — Microsoft Learn is free
Renewal	Free online assessment yearly

Fees change and vary by region. Confirm the current amount on the official site before you register.

Is it worth it?

Yes for administrators in Microsoft-heavy organisations, which are common across European and DACH enterprises. It maps directly to job tasks. If your stack is AWS-first, an AWS associate certification will usually carry more weight.

What to do next

AZ-104 is the core Azure ops cert; next is AZ-305 (Architect). Compare AWS SAA vs AZ-104 if you are picking a platform.

FAQ

Is AZ-104 harder than AWS Solutions Architect Associate?: They are a similar intermediate level. AZ-104 leans more toward hands-on administration; AWS SAA-C03 leans more toward architectural design and trade-offs.
Do I need AZ-900 first?: No. AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals) is optional. AZ-104 has no prerequisites, though fundamentals help if you are new to Azure.
Why does the certification expire after a year?: Microsoft uses annual renewals to keep role-based certifications current. Renewal is free, online and open-book.